Elastic scraper for flue-cleaners



(No Model.)

P. S. KINGSLAND.

ELASTIC SGRAPER FOR PLUE CLEANERS. No. 475,506.

Patented May 24, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHI LIP S. KINGSDAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELASTIC SCRAPER FOR FLUE-CLEANERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,506, dated May 24, 1892.

Application filed February 4, 1892. Serial No. 420,298. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP S. KINGSLAND, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Elastic Scrapers for Flue- Cleaners, (Case No. 3,) of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. My invention relates to improvements in boiler-flue cleaners. Its objects are, first, to produce an efficient cleaner for removing the products of combustion or othermat-ter which collect upon the interior surface of boilertubes; second, to produce such a cleaner which will work equally well in either direction; third, to produce a cleaner which can readily be adapted to difierent sizes of boiler-fines; fourth, to produce a cleaner which in addition to the above-described characteristics can be made at slight cost and readily and cheaply replaced when worn out. These and other objects are secured by my invention, which consists, briefly, in a perforated shell of sheetsteel or other metal, said shell being in the shape of a cone, at the base of which is a frustum of a reverse cone, the bases of the cone and the frustum of the cone forming an angle, which acts as the scraper. The shell is rendered elastic by slots and is adapted to be firmly fixed upon a rod or other means for driving the scraper through the boiler-tube and withdrawing it therefrom. I

My invention further consists in means for attaching the cone-shaped scraper upon a rod or other means for driving it into and withdrawing it from boiler-tubes.

My device is represented in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 shows a piece of the rod, upon which is mounted the support for the cone-shaped shell. The bolt, with the washer, which holds the shell in place is shown slightly removed from the threaded hole in which it is adapted to be screwed. Fig. 2 shows the same parts represented in Fig. 1, but with the fasteningbolt in place and with the cone-shaped shell in place shown in section. Fig. 3 is a top View of the device of myin vention. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof, showing the cone-shaped shell contracted. Fig. 5 is the same as Fig. 4, but with the cone-shaped shell expanded.

While the drawings represent the cleaner as fastened to a rod, it should be observed that it is equally applicable to any device which is adapted to thrust it into and withdraw it from the boiler-tube.

In describing the device by reference to the drawings I will use similar letters of reference to indicate similar parts in all the different views.

I preferably have the rod a threaded and adapted to screw into the block or head I), which I make, preferably, of metal. This block b is formed in whole or in part in the shape of a cone or of a frustum of a cone, the inclination of the sides of which is varied to suit the size of boiler-tube for which the cleaner is to be used. Into the apex or small end 0 of the block b is drilled or cast thehole d, which is tapped to fit the thread of the bolt e. The cone-shaped shell f is formed to fit evenly upon the conical surface of the block b. The washer g, which may be separate or integral with the bolt, is of such size that it projects laterally beyond the conical block a distance preferably about equal to the thickness of the shellf. Vhen the bolte is firmly screwed down to the block I), therefore the conical shell, having previously been set in place, is rigidly fixed to the block.

To supply the elasticity, which is essential or desirable in a device of this kind in order to compensate for irregularities in the form and shape of the boiler-Hues and enable the cleaner to pass obstructions, such as seams or beads upon the interior surface of such tubes, I provide the slots h h, which I make preferably about one-half the length of the conical shell from its base to its apex. In forming the conical shell f I preferably place the rivet 'i, which holds the two edges together, within a short distance of the apex, whereby I secure increased elasticity of the conical shell through opening and closing of the seam 76. To still further increase this elasticity of the shell and also to facilitate the drawing in of the base of the conical shell, so as to form a reverse frustrum of a cone Z, I make the V-shaped slots m m m, after which the base of the conical shellfis drawn in, as shown in Figs. 2, 4,

and 5, forming the angle a, which is the bearing or scraping surface of the cleaner. By drawing in the base of the conical shell the device is adapted to be worked both waysthat is, in and outwith equal facility. The perforations 0 0 0, of which there may be as many as desired consistent with the requisite strength of the shell, of the conical shell permit the passage of air and also of soot or other scrapings from the interior surface of the boiler-tubes, and thus facilitate the operation of the device. The conical shell f I preferably make of sheet-steel; butit is obvious that other metals may be used.

From the foregoing description of the construction of a flue-cleaner embodying my invention its efiiciency will be recognized readily. While it does the work of the morecomplicated and expensive devices hitherto in use with equal thoroughness and case, it is much less expensive, and as the conical shell f is all that is subject to wear the replacing of worn-outclcaners is greatly reduced in cost. The shell may be made as a regular article of manufacture, and of sizes to fit the various sizes of boiler-tubes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pipe-cleaner consisting of a perforated shell of metal formed in the shape of a cone, at the base of which isafrustum of a reverse cone, the bases of the cone and the frusturn of the cone forming an angle which acts as the scraper, whereby the scraper may be driven into and withdrawn from the pipe or flue which is to be cleaned, substantially as described.

2. In a flue-cleaner, the combination, with a perforated shell in the shape of a cone and a reversed frustum of a cone, of a conical block conforming to the interior conical surface of said shell, to which said shell is adapted to be attached by means of bolts or rivets, substantially as described.

3. In a boiler-flue cleaner, the perforated shell f, in the form of a cone, and a reverse frustum of a cone made from one piece of metal, the edges of which are adapted to overlap, in combination with the block b, to whiclbgc said perforated shell is attached by the rivet '5, whereby the perforated shell f is made compressible by circumferential pressure.

4. In a boiler-flue cleaner, the combination of the block b, the bolt e, and the shell f, said shell having the slots m m and h h, the perforations 0 0, the seam is, and the reverse frustum of a cone 1, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of February, A. D. 1892.

PHILIP S. KINGSLAND.

\Vitnesses:

RALPH VANDYKE, GEORGE L. CRAGG. 

